Peek inside Meghan and Harry's luxurious private jet after environmental backlash

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been lambasted for their hypocritical behavior this week, after taking a private jet to return from a climate emergency event in New York. 

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have faced harsh criticism for returning from their recent New York trip on a private jet after urging action on climate change. 
• The couple flew back to California on the Dassault Falcon 2000, a luxurious aircraft popular with wealthy jet setters. 
• In other royal news, Meghan Markle makes a bold fashion statement that pays tribute to Princess Diana.
  

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have landed themselves in hot water with the public—and Mother Earth—after flying home from New York to their $14m Santa Barbara mansion in California on a private jet on Saturday. The couple's luxurious mode of transport has been blasted by royal fans as contradictory to their ecological passion, a cause which they have championed multiple times in the past. 

Harry and Meghan urged climate change action in 2019, warning their online followers of "a ticking clock" and highlighting the "jeopardizing" impact of "fossil fuel emissions" on our planet. The Duke has also addressed environmental issues solo, openly supporting activist Greta Thunberg's global climate strike. 

On Saturday, the couple attended the Global Citizen Live in Central Park, a star-studded concert that urged international leaders to prioritize Covid-vaccine equity and called on more affluent nations to help developing countries go green. 

With so much knowledge on climate change, it's no surprise that the Duke and Duchess have raised eyebrows with their repeated use of personal aircraft. Prince Harry was accused of 'elite environmentalism' for flying on a private jet to a polo match in August, while the couple faced hefty criticism in 2019 after snubbing commercial flights in favor of a private plane for a family vacation to Ibiza. 

Despite the backlash, it doesn't look like Meghan and Harry are ready to ditch their problematic travel habits any time soon. They took a swanky Dassault Falcon 2000 to fly back across the US to their residence in Montecito on Saturday evening, much to the dismay of eco-conscious royal fans. 

The French business jet, which can cost anywhere from $3.9m to $4.7m, has been a popular choice for mega-wealthy globe trotters ever since it first launched back in 1995. With a capacity of just 10 passengers, it's perfect for those who want their space—and peace!—on those tiring long-haul flights. 

The stylishly decorated model also features a ton of perks you're unlikely to find on a commercial flight, including a premium entertainment system and advanced insulation for minimum noise. 

For Harry and Meghan's critics though, a desire for uninterrupted Netflix is no excuse. Private planes are notoriously bad for the environment, with some reports revealing they produce 10x the amount of carbon than commercial flights per passenger. 

“Flying on a private jet is probably the worst thing you can do for the environment. And yet, super-rich super polluters are flying around like there’s no climate crisis," Andrew Murphy, the aviation director at the European Federation for Transport and Environment, told Euronews. 

Royal fans were quick to call the couple out, with one person writing, "Harry and Meghan are at it again. They take a private jet back from a climate change event. Oh to be blissfully rich and blissfully virtuous. You really can have it all." 

It hasn't been all negative press for the A-list couple though. 

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were named as environmental role models by the charity Population Matters earlier this year, after publicly declaring their intention to limit their family to two children.